Tube bending hand tool with a rocking pressure member



M. TOMARIN Oct. 6, 1953 TUBE BENDING HAND TOOL WITH A ROCKING PRESSURE MEMBER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 19 1950 IN! 'EA'TOR.

MARCUS TOMARIN I ATTORN,

Oct. 6, 1953 M. TOMARIN v 2,654,279

TUBE BENDING HAND TOOL WITH A ROCKING PRESSURE MEMBER Filed April 19, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. I MARCUS TOMARIN Patented Oct. 6, 1953 OFFICE ,TUBE BENDl-NG HAND TOOL WITH. A ROCKINGPRESSUREI MEMBER i Marcus "ilomarin, Cincinnati, 1 Ohio Application April 19, 1950, Serial No. 156,812

t-Claims.

Ehis invention relates to .a tube bender; and more particularly to a portable, hand-operated device.

An object of the inventionis to provide atube bender which is constructed and arranged in such a-manner as to enable-the userthereof to make bends of comparatively smallradius, therebyeliminating the need for elbows and other similar fittings.

Another object of the invention is ,to provide a portable, hand-operated tube bender which maybe conveniently used on-thegobior bending tubing at locations heretofore inaccessible to the prior art tube bending devices, thereby enabling the users of my device-to make bends between wall studs, joists and the like, and which will enablebendsto bemade closely adjacent walls, floors, ceilings and other surfaces.

A further object of the invention'is'to provide a tube benderwhich is universal'in that it may be utilized-for eiiectively and efiiciently bending tubes of diiierent diameters, thereby greatly enhancing the utility of the device.

Another object of the invention is to .provide a tube bender w-hich maybeoperated from either side, that is, it may be used as a right or left hand tool at the option oithe user and without affecting the eflicienoy or operating characteristics-oi the device.

Still another object of the inventionis to provide a-tool bender-which includes a block portion and a shoe portion, each of which" is provided with complementary tube-receptive channel-ed edges, wherein the structural relationship of such edges is such as to enable the device to bend tubing without crushing or flattening the walls of the tubing.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a device having the. hereinabove described characteristicsand which includes tube clamping means and shoe carrying means --whic h are removably secured to the bender block in such a manner as to facilitate attachment of the device to .atube at any desired location along its lengthier adjacent its end and of then'bending the tube.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and as disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

'Fig. 1 is a side plan view of the device of the present invention in the process of bending a length of tubing.

Fig. 2 is a sectional Fig. 1.

view taken on 'line 2-2 of Fig. 3 is aside plan view of the upperend ofinvention.

Fig. 'I-isa side view of the tubebending' clamp comprising a detail of the invention.

FigsS' is a side planview of'a clamp anchoring element comprising a detail "of the invention.

"Fig. 9 is an end view'of :ashoe-comprisingade tail of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a side view 'of a'pivot-pin.

Figs. 11, '12, 13 and-14 are sideviewsoftubing provided with typical "bends made with the present device.

Fig. 15 isa sectional view taken on .line 15-45 of Fig. 6 showing anadapter I i0 associated with block and illustrating its relationship with shoe 400'.

With referencenow to Figs. 1, 3, 4 and (6, the numeral -20 indicates generally a block having a curved portion 22 and .a tangential portion '24, each of which is provided with a tube-receptive channeled edge '26 which is dimensioned .to re: ceive the lower half ofa length of tubingfzli to 'be bent. r

A handle ill-may, if desired, be formed integral with block 20, as illustrated.

The numeral 32 denotes a U-shaped lever which includes va pair or depending, laterally spaced legs 34. These legs are dimensioned .to spanningly engage the :opposite side faces of block 20, and are provided at their lower ends with abore or aperture 35 (see Fig. .5) .alignable with a through bore or aperture ;38 provided.

through block '20 at its center of curvature.

.Ashoe All having a straight line tube-receptive channeled edge 42 is .dimensionedto .be received between legs .34 of lever 3-2, to whichit is releasably and pivotally secured .by means .of a pivot pin 44.

With particular reference .now to Fig. it

will be observed that pivot .pin 44 preferably comprises a cylindrical'body portion dimensioned for a sliding ,fit with bore or aperture 46 of shoe and bore or apertures '48 through lever 32. One end of the pivot pin is provided with an abutment 50 and a suitable hand-grip portion 52.

The other end of the pin maybe provided with a spherical member 54 which is normally and yieldably forced outwardly by means of a spring 56 against an annular retaining lip 58. In this manner I preclude accidental or unintentional disengagement of the pivot pin from lever 32.

A similar pivot pin may be utilized for pivotally securing lever 32 to block 20 at its center of curvature.

A handle is attachable to the outer portion of lever 32 beyond shoe 40. I have found that handle 10 may be satisfactorily secured to the lever by merely inserting free end 12 through an aperture 14 provided in the outer portion of lever 32, see Fig. 4.

With the particular reference now to Figs. l4, it will be noted that the numeral 80 indicates a tube clamp, the upper end of which is provided with an inturned portion 82 which overhangs the tube-receptive channeled edge 26 of block 28.

As best disclosed in Fig. 2, opposite sides of block are provided with axially aligned recessed portions 84 into which lug 86 on the inner face 88 of clamp 89 projects for effecting vertical alignment of the clamp with respect to a length of tubing disposed within channeled edge 26. Clamp 89 is adapted to be releasably fastened to block 26 and automatically shifted downwardly relative thereto for clamping a length of tubing in channeled edge 26 incident to rotation of attaching element 98 into threaded bore 92 of block 20. It will be understood that clamp 80 is provided with an aperture 94 of a dimension somewhat larger than the large conical shoulder 95 of attachment element 90, it being further understood that shoulder portion as will first engage the lower edge of aperture 94 in such a manner as to automatically shift clamp 80 downwardly incident to a tightening of element 58.

In those instances wherein the dimensions of channeled edge 26 are such as to receive the largest diameter of tubing to be bent by my dee vice, the adapter iim (see Fig. 6) may be utilized for adapting the device for use with tubing of a smaller diameter than that of channeled edge 26. Adapter H39 has an outer face which is complementary to and dimensioned to be received within channeled edge of block 28. The inner face of the adatper is provided with a channeled edge dimensioned to receive the lower half of. a tube of lesser diameter than the tube receivable within channeled edge. 26 of the block. The adatper will normally be retained within channel 26 by merely being placed therein. However, in order to preclude accidental or unintentional disengagement therefrom, the rear edge of the adapter may be provided with a downwardly projecting lip 192 which is constructed and arranged to overiappingly engage a portion of rear edge I04 of block 20.

,It will be understood that a plurality of shoes may be provided, each having a channeled edge 42 dimensioned to receive a particular tube diameter.

In the operation of my device, a length of tubing 28 is secured relative to block 2!! by means of clamp 80 whereby the tubing will be located in the tangential portion 24 of channel 26 and project outwardly over curved portion 22. fever 32 may now be associated with block 28, thereby disposing shoe 4B in the relationship illustrated in Fig. 3 in which the lower rear edge 4! of the shoe adjacent clamp 89 rides upon the upper edge of tangential portion 24 of block 28. As lever 32 is moved about its pivotal connection with block 20, those portions of the tube which project forwardly of and over curved-portion 22 are maintained in abutting relationship with the straight line tube-receptive channel of shoe 4!). During the bending operation shoe 40 is free to move relative to lever 32 about the pivot pin 44, it being observed (see Fig. 1) that the forward portion of the shoe will be tilted upwardly, whereas the rear portion of the shoe will ride closely adjacent the outer periphery of curved portion 22. Continued movement of lever 32 will result in a smooth bend being provided in the tubing.

The tubing may now be released from the device by removing pivot pin 44 for disconnecting lever 32 from block 20. The clamp may then be disassociated from the tubing and the tool removed therefrom.

In those instances when it is desirable or expedient to return lever 32 to its initial position of Fig. 3 before removing the lever from the block, the shoe is prevented from cooking or binding incident to the return movement of lever 32 by means of spring i3, which may be suitably fastened to the rear face of lever 32, such as by means of a screw I32. The lower end of spring l30 abuttingly engages the lower rear portion of shoe 40 for yieldingly resisting the relative rearward movement of shoe 49 with respect to lever 32.

In Fig. 15 the relationship of adapter H0 with block 20 has been clearly disclosed. It will be noted that shoe 400 has been provided with a tube-receptive channel M2 which is complementary to the tube-receptive channel portion I26 of the adapter. 7 g

It should be understood that various changes and modifications in the structural details of the device may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A tube bender comprising a block having a curved and a tangential portion, provided with a tube-receptive channel, a U-shaped lever having a pair of legs which spanningly engage opposite sides of said block, and wherein the lower ends of said legs and said block at its center of curvature are provided with alignable openings, a pivot pin insertable through said openings for pivotally securing said lever to said block, a shoe pivotally secured between the legs of said lever and intermediate the ends thereof, said shoe having a tube-receptive channeled edge, means for detachably securing said shoe to said lever, tube clamping means secured to and carried by said block adjacent an end of its tangential portion, a handle projecting from said block, and a handle removably attached to said U-shaped lever between said shoe securing means and the bight of the U.

2. A universal type of tube bender comprising a block having a curved and a tangential portion each provided with a tube-receptive channeled edge substantially semicircular in cross section and dimensioned to receive the largest diameter of tubing to be bent by said device, a U-shaped lever straddling said block and having its legs pivotally secured to said block at its center of curvature, an adapter having an external contour complementary to and receivable within the channeled edge of said block, a lip depending from one end of said adapter for engaging said block for releasably anchoring said adapter to said block, said adapter having a tube-receptive channeled edge substantially semi-circular in cross section and dimensioned to receive a tube of lesser diameter than a tube receivable within the channeled edge of said block for adapting said device to tubes of different diameters, a shoe having a tube-receptive channeled edge, means for pivotally securing said shoe between the legs of said U-shaped lever intermediate the ends thereof to engage and bend a tube mounted in the channeled edge of said adapter, tube clamping means secured to and carried by said block, a handle projecting from said block, and a handle removably attached to said U-shaped lever between the shoe securing means and the bight of the U.

3. A universal type of tube bender as defined in and by claim 2, wherein the block is provided with an internally threaded bore adjacent its tangential portion, and wherein the tube clamping means comprises a substantially J-shaped member including a substantially fiat body portion adapted to abut against the block adjacent its tangential portion, and a rounded portion dimensioned to extend over and engage the largest diameter of tubing receivable in the tube-receptive channeled edge of said block, an attaching element including a threaded shank receivable within the threaded bore of said block, one s end of said shank terminating in an overhanging conical shoulder, said body portion having an aperture therethrough of a diameter substantially equal to the maximum diameter of the conical shoulder of said attaching element, the threaded bore in said block being spaced below the tangential portion of the tube-receptive channel whereby to dispose the rounded portion of the clamping means in clamping relationship with the largest diameter tubing receivable in the channeled edge of said block when the aperture in said body portion is engaged by the smallest diameter of the conical shoulder of the attaching element, said rounded tube engaging portion being advanced toward said block incident to the introduction of said conical shoulder into the aperture in said body portion.

4. A tube bender comprising a block having a curved and a tangential portion provided with a tube-receptive channel dimensioned to receive the lower half of a length of tubing to be bent, a U-shaped lever pivotally secured to said block at its center of curvature, a shoe having a straight line tube-receptive channeled edge dimensioned to receive the upper half of a length of tubing located in the channeled edge of the block, means for pivotally securing said shoe to said lever, tube clamping means secured to and carried by said block, a handle projecting from said block, a second handle removably attached to said U shape lever between the shoe securing means and the bight of the U, and resilient means engageable by that end of said shoe adjacent said clamping means arranged so as to allow movement of said shoe relative to said lever away from said resilient means incident to the shifting of said lever during a bending operation while normally and yieldably resisting relative movement of said shoe in the opposite direction incident to the return of said lever following a bending operation.

MARCUS TOMARIN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 361,398 Daniels Apr. 19, 1887 1,514,467 Schonfield et a1 Nov. 4, 1924 1,712,573 Loveridge May 14, 1929 2,127,185 Parker Aug. 16, 1938 2,232,819 Abramson et al Feb. 25, 1941 2,233,292 Lewin Feb. 25, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 16,406 Great Britain July 14, 1909 417,656 Great Britain Oct. 3, 1934 107,310 Australia Apr. 28, 1939 

